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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Obama in new push to close Guantánamo

Obama in new push to close Guantánamo

Obama in new push to close Guantánamo

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:10 AM PDT

The US president campaigned in 2008 on a promise to close the facility but the effort was abandoned after encountering stiff resistance among both parties in Congress

Letta urges determination to spur growth

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:50 AM PDT

Europe must show the same determination to promote growth as it does to maintain sound public finances, Italy's new prime minister said in Berlin

Eurozone jobless rate up as inflation falls

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:28 AM PDT

Expectations for an ECB interest rate cut grow after the eurozone unemployment rate edges up to 12.1% and the inflation rate slows sharply to 1.2%

New Mexico tax race stirs debate

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 06:34 AM PDT

State governor SusanMultimedia Daily Plana Martinez is trying to attract and retain investment but critics say lower rates will hit working families while multinationals gain

Ireland agrees draft law allowing abortion

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:55 PM PDT

The new legislation, which has been presented after the death of an Indian dentist, is intended to clarify cases when the mother's life is at risk

Dutch king sworn in as queen abdicates

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 09:11 AM PDT

Following the example of her mother and grandmother, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicates in favour of her son Willem-Alexander

Tymoshenko jailing branded ‘unlawful’

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:27 AM PDT

Ruling by Europe's human rights court that ex-Ukraine PM Yulia Tymoshenko's detention was political adds to strain between west and Kiev

Elysée to auction 10th of wine cellar

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:19 AM PDT

Wines no longer present in large enough numbers to serve at palace events will be sold off and proceeds reinvested in "more modest" vintages

Retailers pledge aid for factory victims

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:49 AM PDT

Compensation pledged for garment workers killed or injured in last week's building collapse as rescuers abandon hope of finding more survivors

Iceland’s centrists asked to form government

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 05:50 AM PDT

Coalition with Independence party expected, but move opens door for Progressive party to flirt with leftwing groups that were big losers in elections
Posted by Anonymous at 1:42 PM 0 comments

Monday, April 29, 2013

Greece passes law to fire civil servants

Greece passes law to fire civil servants

Greece passes law to fire civil servants

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 08:13 AM PDT

Greece has implemented an agreement with EU-IMF inspectors by passing a law that should see €2.8bn in overdue rescue funds flow to Athens

Pakistan army officers riled ahead of polls

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 05:38 AM PDT

Arrest and trial of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf triggers unease among military officers who are unhappy about how army is treated

Violent times for oil industry in Libya

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:32 AM PDT

The weakness of Libya's government and the proliferation of armed groups have transformed the environment for international oil companies

China rejects Taiwan hacking allegations

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 08:30 AM PDT

Taiwanese report says Beijing has broadened its targets while a senior Chinese official says that Beijing is being wrongly blamed for cyber attacks

Talent show tears at Syrian’s sad song

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 04:09 AM PDT

Syrian contestant Abdul Kareem Hamdan dragged the real world into the studio of TV ratings hit 'Arab Idol' with a sad song about his native Aleppo

Iraq bombs expose faultines

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 12:57 PM PDT

Death toll for past seven days passes 200, marking worst week of violence since US troops pulled out, as Shia-Sunni tensions escalate

EU to ban bee-harming pesticides

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 08:09 AM PDT

The European Commission is to impose a temporary ban on three widely used chemicals, in spite of EU governments failing to agree on the issue

Myanmar urged to lift bars to citizenship

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 05:45 AM PDT

Myanmar government urged to lift barriers restricting members of Muslim group from full citizenship after sectarian attacks threaten to derail reform

IMF warns on capital inflows into Asia

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 10:53 PM PDT

International Monetary Fund warns of increased risks for the region but maintains that it will lead a 'global three-speed recovery'
Posted by Anonymous at 1:20 PM 0 comments

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Hollande to woo business with tax cut

Hollande to woo business with tax cut

Hollande to woo business with tax cut

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 09:36 AM PDT

Plan comes as president struggles to persuade investors and European partners that Socialist government is committed to reforms to revive economy

Shooting greets Italy’s grand coalition

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT

'Grand coalition' must navigate narrow path between easing tax burden and meeting fiscal constraints imposed by Brussels to revive economy

Abe’s nationalistic streak under scrutiny

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 09:22 AM PDT

Amid glowing popularity ratings and off the back of acclaimed efforts to stimulate the economy, the Japanese PM's nationalistic streak again faces scrutiny

Portugal to challenge banks in court

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 10:00 AM PDT

Move part of efforts to stem potential losses of up to €3bn from complex hedging products that would weaken efforts to keep bailout on track

Bangladesh factory owner arrested

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 05:28 AM PDT

International pressure grows for reforms to prevent repeat of tragedy. Death toll expected to rise as hopes fade of finding more survivors

Greens and SPD close ranks against Merkel

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 08:37 AM PDT

During a party congress in Berlin, the Greens positioned themselves to the left of the Social Democrats with calls for higher income tax

Obama finalises economic team

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 12:38 PM PDT

Michael Froman, who had been expected to stay on as chief adviser for international economic affairs, will take over a trade agenda

Israel hits Gaza arms and training sites

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 11:49 PM PDT

Air strike follows a militant rocket attack on Israeli territory, in the second such operation since November's eight-day offensive against Gaza

Iceland party leader aims to boost growth

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 09:10 AM PDT

Bjarni Benediktsson, head of the centre-right Independence Party, says he will start coalition discussions straight away with the centrist Progressive Party

Zambia cracks down on miners over tax

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 11:51 AM PDT

Africa's biggest source of copper plans to force companies to repatriate foreign currency from exports in fight against 'transfer pricing'
Posted by Anonymous at 1:07 PM 0 comments

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Austerians are taking on the Spendanigans

Austerians are taking on the Spendanigans

Austerians are taking on the Spendanigans

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 02:27 PM PDT

The debate about the pros and cons of cutting government spending to bring down sovereign debt is back after a bad few weeks for advocates of rapid fiscal consolidation

House passes bill to end US flight delays

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 10:35 AM PDT

The vote represents a rebuff to both the White House and the Democrats who had insisted that any budget deals should also include tax rises

Dead Bhutto looms over Pakistan poll

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT

Assassinated former prime minister is poster girl for the Pakistan People's party in its uphill campaign to return to power after five-year term
Posted by Anonymous at 1:10 PM 0 comments

Friday, April 26, 2013

Anger in Dhaka as death toll climbs

Anger in Dhaka as death toll climbs

Anger in Dhaka as death toll climbs

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 08:22 AM PDT

Anger over the working conditions of Bangladesh's garment workers has grown steadily since the disaster, with thousands taking to the streets to protest on Friday

Dhaka’s outlook darkens after factory collapse

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 08:38 AM PDT

Health and safety concerns may drive exodus of retailers from Bangladesh's factories just as domestic political infighting is hurting its economy

Spending cuts hold back US growth

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 11:40 AM PDT

The squeeze on government spending may be having bigger than expected effects, trapping the economy in a pattern of steady but mediocre growth

Spain plans to delay deficit reduction

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 11:08 AM PDT

Budget minister says Madrid's plans to ease austerity, which have Brussels' support, are 'compatible' with the need for economic recovery

US strategy on Syria haunted by Iraq flaws

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 10:17 AM PDT

Obama has described use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime as a 'red line' but since the WMD fiasco, solid evidence on sarin use is essential before any action can be taken

Disgraced Brazilian congressmen back bill

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 10:05 AM PDT

Ruling party's members support the proposed constitutional amendment which would strip the court that convicted them of much of its power

Cyprus to maintain controls over summer

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 11:58 AM PDT

The measures, to help local businesses during tourist season, will be lifted after the restructuring of Bank of Cyprus, government adviser says

French socialists attack ‘selfish’ Merkel

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 10:51 AM PDT

Leaked document bitterly attacks conduct of right-leaning administrations, including the British government, but reserves harshest words for German chancellor

Pinault family offers to return bronze heads to China

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 06:16 AM PDT

Bronze heads of a rat and rabbit were among items looted from the old Summer Palace in Beijing, sacked by French and British troops in 1860

African art finds international appeal

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 07:18 AM PDT

African art is becoming an emerging asset class in the tradition of art from China, India and other growing economies
Posted by Anonymous at 1:19 PM 0 comments

Thursday, April 25, 2013

US suspects Syria used chemical weapons

US suspects Syria used chemical weapons

US suspects Syria used chemical weapons

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 09:39 AM PDT

The simple admission that chemical weapons have likely been used will put huge pressure on President Barack Obama to intervene more forcefully

Muslim Brotherhood to make Syria return

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 04:32 AM PDT

After the organisation was crushed under the Assad regime, the organisation hopes to promote a more moderate brand of Islamist thinking at a time of growing radicalisation

West pressed to act over Dhaka disasters

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:05 AM PDT

The latest mass loss of life raises serious questions about regulatory failures in Bangladesh's $19bn garment industry that supplies big brands

Record unemployment in Spain and France

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 10:18 AM PDT

Continued weakness in employment has intensified the debate over austerity and whether current, Berlin-backed policies are too severe

Merkel speech highlights European divide

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:44 AM PDT

The German leader underlined the gulf at the heart of the eurozone when she waded into interest-rate policy, days before an expected cut by the ECB

Republicans turn up pressure over Boston

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:01 AM PDT

Senators call for hearings over what some see as the mishandling of intelligence information by authorities about Tamerlan Tsarnaev

PKK fighters to withdraw from Turkey

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 09:51 AM PDT

Kurdistan Workers Party says it will start withdrawing its fighters from Turkey from May 8 but would stop if attacked, as happened previously

Russia threatens to halt Irish adoptions

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 09:42 AM PDT

Warning from Kremlin appears designed to head off attempts to persuade other EU states to implement Magnitsky measures

‘Good tsar’ anoints new economic adviser

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 10:43 AM PDT

Putin's annual call-in show puts the economy centre stage and favours Alexei Kudrin, the former finance minister who has flirted with the opposition

UN approves Mali peacekeeping force

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 10:30 AM PDT

The new 12,640-strong Minusma force will be tasked with helping restore democracy to the west African nation, and stabilising its northern region
Posted by Anonymous at 1:56 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Italy’s centre-right sets out conditions

Italy’s centre-right sets out conditions

Italy’s centre-right sets out conditions

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 10:44 AM PDT

Berlusconi's People of Liberty demands before joining a coalition led by Enrico Letta include abolition of housing tax and reform of judiciary

Starbucks seeks fresh US tax breaks

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 05:06 AM PDT

Move would make it more lucrative for Starbucks to own and operate its own stores internationally, rather than through franchisees

US weighs civil liberties and terror right

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 11:17 AM PDT

The attack in Boston has refocused attention on the threat from radical Islam and the tension between civil liberties and counter-terrorism policy

Merkel pressed to ease up on austerity

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 11:28 AM PDT

The German leader is coming under domestic political pressure to back an easing of spending cuts and tax rises in the eurozone's crisis-hit periphery

Scores dead in garment factory collapse

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 12:07 PM PDT

Bangladesh tragedy: collapse follows fatal fire at garment factory in November that killed 112 people and raised an outcry about safety

Pressure mounts on ECB to cut rates

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 07:00 AM PDT

There is some debate about whether a rate cut will have much effect on the German economy because companies can already borrow at extremely low rates

Chinese roll out red carpet for Hollande

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 08:48 AM PDT

Likely warm reception for French president in marked contrast to treatment of UK government since prime minister David Cameron met Dalai Lama

Pro-Assad hackers claim biggest coup

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT

The Syrian Electronic Army has crowed over its bogus Twitter news report of White House explosions which caused a dip in the US stock market

Paris moves to bolster economic advice

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 10:54 AM PDT

Jean Pisani-Ferry, head of think-tank Bruegel, is to take charge of economic policy planning for Jean-Marc Ayrault, prime minister

President works to soothe Mexico tensions

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 09:44 AM PDT

Political tensions had threatened to fracture a cross-party alliance that has been the driving force of leader's praised economic reform agenda
Posted by Anonymous at 1:32 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Israel accuses Syria of using nerve gas

Israel accuses Syria of using nerve gas

Israel accuses Syria of using nerve gas

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 09:53 AM PDT

Israel's top military analyst tells a conference that Syrian regime forces have 'probably' used the nerve gas sarin in several attacks

Napolitano eyes Amato as Italy’s unity PM

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 11:06 AM PDT

President Giorgio Napolitano has held a long day of talks to try to end two months of deadlock and form a broad unity government

Sugar leaves sour taste in Indian drought

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 11:55 PM PDT

Maharashtra is in the grip of its worst drought in 40 years, as man-made factors combined with poor monsoon rains leave thousands without water

Bomb attack on French embassy in Tripoli

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:30 AM PDT

Incident is first of its kind in Libyan capital since end of 2011 war that ousted Gaddafi and is being linked by some to France's intervention in Mali

Senate plans crackdown on visa ‘abusers’

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 09:25 AM PDT

Outsourcing companies are using H-1B visas to staff jobs such as IT support for the US financial services industry with cheaper, foreign workers

Mahathir, the puppeteer, takes to the stump

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 08:30 AM PDT

As Malaysia heads for a cliffhanger election, the former prime minister is still suspected as a powerful string-puller behind the scenes

India protests over China border incursion

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 04:29 AM PDT

India says a Chinese military patrol has crossed the Himalayan border and encamped several kilometres inside territory normally controlled by Delhi

Cartoonist taps fears over Mandela legacy

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 05:42 AM PDT

Satirical cartoon highlights concerns that an unseemly battle could break out over Nelson Mandela's estate as he approaches his 95th birthday

Vienna tries to cling on to bank secrecy

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:46 AM PDT

Austria is under increasing pressure from the EU to share data on foreign depositors but it may fight to preserve secrecy rules for its own citizens

Sino-Japanese tensions mount over Senkaku

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:56 AM PDT

Eight Chinese surveillance vessels entered Japanese territorial waters around the disputed islands, prompting official complaints from Japan
Posted by Anonymous at 1:35 PM 0 comments

Monday, April 22, 2013

Syrian rebels seek control over oilfields

Syrian rebels seek control over oilfields

Syrian rebels seek control over oilfields

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 08:20 AM PDT

Military units to be created to assert authority over oilfields as EU lifts oil embargo, allowing rebels to sell crude to fund operations

Boston bomb suspect charged

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 11:57 AM PDT

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be prosecuted on two charges; for conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction, in this case a bomb, and for malicious destruction of property

Italy’s president warns of ‘fatal deadlock’

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 10:27 AM PDT

Napolitano slams parties for their failure to reach agreement and implicitly threatened to resign if no government materialises

Iceland heads for huge ‘swing election’

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 05:32 AM PDT

Dissatisfied Icelanders are set to change the party they voted for, polls suggest, as they grapple with the consequences of the financial crisis

Online retail faces US tax loophole vote

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 11:09 AM PDT

Senate likely to pass a bill which would result in many online shoppers paying the same sales tax as mall shoppers for the first time

Abenomics’ test lies in growth strategy

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 04:47 AM PDT

A weaker currency alone in Japan may not be enough to spur more investment at home and resolve longer term problems in the economy

China and US try to forge military ties

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 09:37 AM PDT

The push comes as China's navy and missile forces are acquiring the ability to project power in Asia and limit the freedom of US forces

Taliban seizes foreigners in Afghanistan

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 06:36 AM PDT

Militants capture passengers and crew of a helicopter forced to land in eastern part of the country, say Turkish officials and the Taliban

China protests as shrine dispute widens

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 08:19 AM PDT

China has protested visits of Japanese cabinet members to the Yasukuni shrine after South Korea's foreign minister suspended plans for a trip to Japan

Sichuan quake volunteers turned away

Posted: 22 Apr 2013 09:27 AM PDT

The need to keep those eager to help away from the disaster area highlights that civic involvement and philanthropic activity are on the rise in China
Posted by Anonymous at 1:59 PM 0 comments
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